About Your Prescription Drug Coverage
Important Notice from
[COMPANY]
About Your Prescription Drug Coverage
and Medicare
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it.
This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with[COMPANY]and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.
There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage:
1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.
2. [COMPANY] has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by [CARRIER]participants, NOTexpected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is therefore considered Non - Creditable Coverage. This is important because, most likely, you will get more help with your drug costs if you join a Medicare drug plan, than if you only have prescription drug coverage from the [Insert Name of Plan]. This also is important because it may mean that you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you do not join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible.
3. You can keep your current coverage from [CARRIER]. However, because your coverage is non-creditable, you have decisions to make about Medicare prescription drug coverage that may affect how much you pay for that coverage, depending on if and when you join a drug plan. When you make your decision, you should compare your current coverage, including what drugs are covered, with the coverage and cost of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Read this notice carefully - it explains your options.
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When Can You Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15th to December 7th
However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.
When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
Since the coverage under [CARRIER] is not creditable, depending on how long you go without creditable prescription drug coverage you may pay a penalty to join a Medicare drug plan. Starting with the end of the last month that you were first eligible to join a Medicare drug plan but didn’t join, if you go 63 continuous days or longer without prescription drug coverage that’s creditable, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join.
What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current [CARRIER] coverage will not be affected.
If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current [CARRIER] coverage, be aware that you and your dependents may or may not be able to get this coverage back.
When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
You should also know that if you drop or lose your current coverage with [CARRIER] and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.
If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join.
For More Information About This Notice Or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…
Contact the person listed below for further information, or call Brown & Knapp Group Benefits, LLC at 203.481.4254. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through [CARRIER]changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.
For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You’ll get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans
For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:
- Visit
- Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of your copy of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Remember: Keep this Non - Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higherpremium (a penalty).
Medicare Eligible Individual’s Name:
Individual’s DOB or unique Member ID:
The individual stated above has been covered under Not Creditable prescription drug coverage for the following date ranges that occurred after May 15, 2006:
From:[PLAN YEAR]
Date:
Name of Entity/Sender:
Contact--Position/Office
Address:
Phone Number: